Cape & Islands News

Carolyn Cragin edits the editor

Monomoy Superintendent clarifies the media

Gives a sneak preview of new high school design

   It's not etched in stone yet, but Dr. Cragin was kind enough to send an architect's rendering of what the MRHS building's exterior might look like.  It's their first run at a design that reflects the area's aesthetic, and is far more like the present Harwich High School building which it will replace as the high school for both Chatham and Harwich when it opens in September 2014.

By Walter Brooks

Our Xtra yesterday about a report describing the "sticker shock" of the Fiscal Year 13 budget for the new Monomoy Region had a few errors which the district's superintendent, Dr. Carolyn Cragin, was kind enough to correct with a friendly email to us this morning:

Thanks for the opportunity to review the story.  There are a couple of issues that I can clarify.

The reference to elementary schools returning to individual town control is incorrect.  Monomoy is a preK-12 region and will be responsible for the operation of all grades starting on July 1, 2012. 

The elementary schools will continue to serve their neighborhoods (and any School Choice students within the region or from other towns) under the leadership of a regional central office. 

What makes FY 13 and FY 14 challenging to the budget is that until the new high school opens we will be operating the same number of buildings as we are in FY 12 and will need essentially the same level of staffing.  Central office is the only part of the district that will be a single entity next year, and even that will continue to be in two separate locations (academic in Chatham, financial in Harwich). 

FY 15, after MRHS opens, represents the first budget that will combine staff and students in 4 (rather than 6) buildings and that will begin to show the savings of full regionalization, primarily through attrition.  The September 2014 date for opening of the new high school is important because it will accomplish two major goals of regionalization -- increased opportunities for students and economies of scale savings for both communities.

The reference to 8 special education students did not come from my presentation (attached).  Because we maintain confidentiality regarding student identity, no number was given.

Carolyn
Carolyn M. Cragin, Ed.D., Superintendent
Harwich Public Schools, 81 Oak Street, Harwich, MA 02645
508-430-7200